Poll

Court/Criminal

Motorists who refuse to wear their seatbelts – beware. Hodgenville Police Department is joining the national Click It or Ticket seatbelt enforcement mobilization on May 19 to help save lives by cracking down on those who won’t buckle up.
“As motorists take to the roads to celebrate the long Memorial Day weekend, we want to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound,” said Chief Steve Johnson. “We’ll be out in force – day and night – prepared to ticket anyone not wearing a seatbelt.”

The former accountant for the Abbey of Gethsemani was indicted Wednesday for allegedly stealing more than $1 million from the monastery, according to Nelson County Commonwealth's Attorney Terry Geoghegan.

A grand jury returned an indictment accusing John E. Hutchins and his wife, Carrie Lee Hutchins, of 87 counts of theft — 40 of them for allegedly taking over $10,000.

The money was allegedly siphoned from the abbey's mail-order business from 2008 through February.

Annabelle Carlen Hatcher (1984) pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence; fleeing or evading police; resisting arrest; and menacing April 18 in LaRue Circuit Court. A charge of persistent felony offender was dismissed. Recommended sentence is two years on the first count and 12 months on the remaining counts. Presentencing investigation ordered. Final sentencing is June 2.

Christa Lynn Centers, 41, of New Haven was sentenced April 17 in Nelson Circuit Court.

Centers was sentenced to two years in prison for receiving stolen property and two years in prison for tampering with physical evidence. The sentences shall be served concurrently. Centers was granted probation for a period of five years following set conditions pay a yet to be determined amount of restitution. On Oct. 12, Centers received and disposed of various household items and jewelry belonging to the estate of Martha Wells.

Security has been tightened in LaRue County courtrooms after an inmate was discovered with contraband – immediately after a court appearance – earlier this month.

Jason Kitzero, 36, of Buffalo, was lodged at the LaRue County Detention Center following his arrest for manufacturing methamphetamine. Kitzero was present at an April 1 house fire believed to have been started by an exploding meth lab.

Kitzero now faces a charge of promoting contraband after jail deputies found a large package of tobacco on his person during a search.

Cherry Sheppard (1985) of Hodgenville, was charged with trafficking in controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and complicity; trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, four or more grams of crack cocaine and complicity; and resisting arrest.

The alleged offenses occurred Feb. 21. She is accused of acting alone or in concert with Horace Barbour.

Bond was set in district court. She is ordered to have no communication with Barbour.